Against the Light - Chapter 127
Chapter 127: Vicious Enough
"My two ladies? Are you done being all lovey-dovey? Can I come in now?" Ye Nan's voice came from outside the door.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Gu Xinran went to open the door. "Auntie Ye."
"Mm."
"Oh? Still have a lipstick mark on your face?" Ye Nan said with a laugh, looking at Yilan's flushed cheeks.
"Huh?" Bai Yilan was startled and quickly raised a hand to rub her cheek.
"Ah!" Gu Xinran wanted to warn her, but she was a beat too slow and helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead.
Seeing Ye Nan's mischievous grin, Yilan instantly realized she'd been tricked. "Auntie Ye, you've gone bad!"
"Haha."
Ye Nan put down the lunch, told them to eat while it was hot, and then left.
Gu Xinran picked up a bowl of congee, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to Yilan.
"Haven't you gone to see how Ming Zhen is doing?" Yilan asked.
"I actually did go see her. Her injuries aren't serious, and she can already get out of bed. She came to see you yesterday, but you were sleeping, so she didn't wake you. She's already bouncing off the walls now. I heard that yesterday, because she was afraid of getting a shot, she climbed on top of the wardrobe," Gu Xinran said with a laugh.
"Hm? That really happened? She is quite afraid of injections. She's scared of needles, has a bit of a fear of sharp objects."
"No wonder. I heard Xue Yuexian was the one who coaxed her down in the end."
"They met?"
"Mm, not only did they meet, she probably recognized her too. I went to take a look this morning. Xue Yuexian hired someone to teach her aristocratic etiquette. That girl had a long face the whole time. Finally, someone can keep her in line." Gu Xinran said with a gloating expression.
Bai Yilan shook her head helplessly.
In the lounge next door, the shareholders of Wei Yi Group were gathered. Shi Qing sat in the middle of the sofa, looking at the four people present.
"Sister Qing, while you've been away, Wei Yi's market value has plummeted. Even some of our long-term manufacturing partners want to terminate their contracts. We really can't let Bai Yiyue continue to ruin Wei Yi's reputation like this."
"Mm. I called you all here today precisely to resolve this matter."
"If you ask me, Wei Yi Group is ultimately a Bai family enterprise. Those Bai family relatives are like parasites. Not only are they useless, but they're constantly gnawing away at the company. With your abilities, Sister Qing, you could completely shake off this dead weight and start fresh."
"That's right. You've slaved away for the Bai family your whole life, only to be kicked out by them in the end. I couldn't bear such an injustice."
"And you have to consider Yilan, too. There's no place for her in the Bai family."
"Exactly."
Shi Qing smiled but didn't speak.
There was a knock on the door. Ye Nan pushed it open. "Sister Qing, people from the Bai family are here."
Shi Qing lifted her eyelids slightly. The shareholders exchanged glances.
"Let them in."
Bai Yue was the first to walk in. Ignoring the surrounding shareholders, she went straight to Shi Qing. "How is Yilan? Is she alright? How could something like this happen? That child is so careless."
Ignoring Bai Yue's worried expression, Shi Qing's gaze went past her to Bai Yiyue, who was standing behind her.
"You see me and don't even offer a greeting?" Shi Qing asked with a smile.
Bai Yiyue subconsciously swallowed. A chill rose from the bottom of her heart, and she didn't dare meet Shi Qing's gaze. "Mom," she called out quietly.
"Shi Qing, how is Yilan?" The other Bai family relatives looked around, pressing for an update on Yilan's condition.
Shi Qing took it all in and found it laughable. These people were at least willing to put on an act, but Bai Yiyue couldn't even be bothered to pretend with her.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"Ahem, what kind of thing is that to say? Something so serious happened to Yilan. We're her elders, how could we not come to see her?"
"Exactly."
"You can't be serious. Did I remember wrong, or do you all have bad memories? I recall that not long ago, in this very hospital, you forced Yilan to sign an agreement," Ye Nan said with feigned surprise.
"You should know I've never liked beating around the bush." Shi Qing looked at Bai Yue.
Bai Yue hesitated for a moment, then took out the agreement and tore it up in front of Shi Qing.
"Bring Yilan back. You can have whatever you want."
Bai Yiyue was shocked and looked at Bai Yue.
"Whatever I want?"
"Yes."
Shi Qing was silent for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the sofa.
"Go get Yilan," she said to Ye Nan.
"Huh?" Ye Nan froze for a second, then left with a confused look on her face.
A short while later, Ye Nan returned to the room. Everyone simultaneously looked behind her.
Bai Yilan walked in, supported by Gu Xinran. As soon as she entered and saw so many people, she looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Come sit." Shi Qing patted the spot on the sofa next to her.
Bai Yilan glanced around the room, then looked at Xinran beside her. Gu Xinran was much calmer. She squeezed Yilan's hand, gave her a slight nod, and helped her sit down on the sofa.
"Yilan, how did you get hurt so badly? Does it hurt?"
Bai Yilan gave a light laugh and smoothed her hair. "Thank you for your concern, President Bai." The formal address immediately rebuffed all the familiar words Bai Yue had been about to say.
"You…"
"You just said that as long as I return to the Bai family, I can have whatever I want, correct?" Shi Qing asked.
"Yes." Bai Yue secretly gritted her teeth.
"To all the Bai family relatives present, when Yilan was first born, your Bai family refused to acknowledge this child. In front of the old madam, you forced Chengli to do a paternity test. Do you still remember that?"
At these words, the Bai family members looked at each other in dismay.
Bai Yilan's expression changed. She looked at her relatives, but they all avoided her gaze.
Shi Qing squeezed Yilan's hand. "Do you remember the results of that paternity test?"
"Qing, don't say any more. What happened back then was our fault. She is Chengli's daughter, a child of the Bai family."
"Yes, I remember. She is Chengli's daughter, there's no mistake."
Shi Qing nodded.
"Good. Since you've all confirmed Yilan's identity, then now, I want her and Bai Yiyue to do a kinship test." Shi Qing said it lightly, but everyone present was stunned.
"What!?"
Bai Yue hesitated for a second, then shook her head, rejecting the idea.
Shi Qing wasn't in a hurry. She raised a hand and gestured toward the door, telling Ye Nan to see them out.
"Bai Yue, since they're half-sisters, what's the harm in a test? Why won't you allow it?"
"Yeah."
"First, you tell me why you want this kinship test," Bai Yue said, looking at Shi Qing with a dark expression.
"It's just like how you all suspected my daughter was a bastard back then. Do I need any other reason?"
"I won't do it! I'm not a bastard!" Bai Yiyue said angrily.
"It's not up to you or me to decide."
"Just do it. It won't hurt anything."
"Yeah, everyone knows you're Chengli's daughter." The Bai relatives had expressions of people who were enjoying the drama and didn't mind stirring the pot.
"Shut up, all of you!"
"Shi Qing, no matter how we fight, we can't target the children. That's my bottom line." Bai Yue's face was ashen.
Shi Qing narrowed her eyes, studying her. "Your reaction is a bit strange. It's just a kinship test. Is there a need to get so flustered? If I can't be one hundred percent certain of her identity, how can I rest assured handing Wei Yi Group over to her?"
"Bai Yiyue is Bai Chengli's daughter. I can guarantee it with my life."
"Mm, that sounds familiar. It seems that's how I proved Yilan's identity back then," Shi Qing said with a smile.
"Sister Qing, if you ask me, if they don't dare to do it, you shouldn't force them. We should just discuss starting a new company. You've done more than enough for Wei Yi to be worthy of Bai Chengli. Why waste your life away with the Bai family?"
"Yes, just give the word, and we will follow you to the death."
The shareholders timed their words to put pressure on Bai Yue.
"You all know perfectly well whether I'm my father's daughter or not! I don't need to prove my identity this way!" Bai Yiyue fumed.
"Words are cheap. If you're not willing, then forget it. No one is forcing you. Sister Nan, isn't it time to see our guests out?"
"Right. Come, everyone, this way please." Ye Nan opened the door and made a gesture for them to leave.
"Ah Yue, just do it. Yilan did it back then, too. After all, the Bai family is a huge enterprise. We can't afford to be careless when it comes to the heir."
"Just do it, it'll be fine."
"Aunt…" Bai Yiyue looked to Bai Yue, waiting for her to make a decision.
"You won't let her do it… could there really be a problem?"
"No way. The Bai family has been raising someone else's child for thirty years?"
"Don't talk nonsense! This is all her scheme! She wants to cause infighting among us!" Bai Yiyue pointed at Shi Qing, furious and flustered.
"Then just do the test, so everyone can be at ease."
"Yeah."
Bai Yue looked at the chattering Bai relatives, her expression terrifyingly dark. "I want to be present for the entire process. You have to guarantee you won't tamper with the results," she said, compromising helplessly.
"Fine." Shi Qing nodded at Ye Nan. Ye Nan acknowledged and left, and Bai Yue, still worried, followed her.
A short while later, a doctor came into the room and, under everyone's intense scrutiny, drew blood from both of them.
Gu Xinran helped Yilan press a cotton swab to her fingertip.
"Take her back to rest," Shi Qing said to Gu Xinran.
Bai Yilan shook her head.
The room fell completely silent. Everyone was waiting for the test results.
Shi Qing crossed her arms and closed her eyes, resting.
Before long, footsteps echoed from the hallway. Shi Qing opened her eyes. The others in the room grew tense without realizing it, and Bai Yilan also sat up straight.
Ye Nan and Bai Yue entered one after the other.
"Sister Qing, the results are in."
Shi Qing took the file folder she was handed, unwound the string tie, and pulled the test results from inside.
She scanned it up and down, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.
Bai Yilan was sitting right beside her and saw the results clearly. Her expression changed, and she looked at Bai Yiyue in disbelief.
Bai Yiyue's heart trembled under that gaze, and sweat instantly beaded on her forehead.
"See for yourselves." Shi Qing's expression turned icy as she tossed the paper out.
Bai Yue caught the paper and glanced at it. "No, impossible! This is impossible!"
"No biological relationship? How is that possible!?" Bai Yiyue was utterly shocked.
Hiss! A collective gasp filled the room. The Bai family members stared at each other. Had they really raised someone else's child for thirty years??
"This is impossible! I demand another kinship test at a different hospital!" Bai Yue said.
Shi Qing ignored her. After a long moment, she chuckled softly. "Bai Yue, what a grand game of chess you've been playing!"
"Don't you dare make baseless accusations!" Bai Yue retorted hastily.
"What on earth is going on? Bai Yue, do you know something?"
"Yeah, is Yiyue really not Chengli's daughter? Then your years of supporting only her while ignoring Yilan are too suspicious."
"What is going on? You have to give us an explanation!"
"Aunt, I…" Bai Yiyue was completely stunned, shaking her head. "I am a daughter of the Bai family, I am…"
Bai Yue looked at the Bai family members who were desperately pressuring her, and a sense of powerlessness washed over her. She looked at Shi Qing and shook her head. "Do you dare swear you didn't tamper with these test results?"
"I didn't. But you, do you dare swear that you haven't concealed anything about Bai Yiyue's identity?" Shi Qing retorted.
"Bai Yue! What is going on?!"
"You have to give us an answer today!"
"Good heavens, and you still wanted Bai Yiyue to inherit Wei Yi! What kind of scheme were you plotting?! Whose child is Bai Yiyue, really?"
Bai Yue closed her eyes, then suddenly laughed. She opened them and looked at Shi Qing. "Vicious enough."
Shi Qing didn't respond. She glanced at Yilan, who still hadn't processed everything, and gave Ye Nan a look. Ye Nan understood and came over to help Gu Xinran escort Yilan out.
After settling Yilan down, the two of them left the hospital room. Gu Xinran grabbed Ye Nan and pulled her into a corner.
"Auntie Ye, that kinship test…" Gu Xinran started, then hesitated.
"What about it?"
"No, it's nothing."
"Sister Qing gave them countless chances. They're the ones who didn't know how to cherish them."
"I understand."
"Don't think about these things. Just take good care of Yilan."
"Mm."
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